Ankit Poudel was born and raised in Chitwan, Nepal. After years of creative pursuit and filmmaking in Kathmandu, he now channels the artistic energy of New York City. He earned his undergraduate degree in filmmaking from Tribhuvan University in Nepal, where he received the Infinite Scholarship from Singapore in 2017. Following film school, he began making films and teaching the craft. Seeking deeper mastery, he moved to the United States and earned an MFA in Cinematic Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where he received the Chancellor’s Award in 2019 and 2020. He is also a recipient of the Adoor Gopalakrishnan Fellowship (2020).

His films have screened internationally, including at the Sundance Film Festival, Festival du nouveau cinéma, and Raindance Film Festival, and have earned distinctions such as Best Art Film at the Asolo Art Film Festival, Best Narrative at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, and the Grand Prix at the Split Film Festival, among others.

Through his work, Ankit examines the human condition by focusing on everyday life. His lens gazes in an impressionistic style, with simple, minimal stories. Rooted in Nepali culture, traditions, and folklore, his films often blur the line between the real and the surreal. He is currently developing his debut feature film.